Let’s not look past the Second of July

You know you’re growin’ older when... You look both ways before crossing a room.

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When studying the most important days to celebrate in our country’s history, without a doubt, the top of the list is July 4, 1776. A quick history lesson: The Fourth of July recognizes the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a significant moment in American history. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress successfully voted to become independent from Great Britain, and two days after that, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed by delegates representing the 13 colonies.

If the July 2, 1776, date is a significant day, then July 2, 1964, should rank among the most important dates in our country’s history.

Why, do you ask?

Well, it’s the day that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The Jim Crow belief of “separate but equal” was to be banished.

Still, our racial divide continues to be a deep problem in our country. Without a doubt, we have made many sizable strides. Sacrifices from numerous individuals and groups have made those steps possible. However, considering the recent Supreme Court decisions, one should ask “Are we going backwards?”

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, in one of her columns, says the ‘Bloom is off the Robes” in referring to their recent decisions. I can’t agree more with her assessment of the recent actions of the court. First, overturning Roe v. Wade, and more recently, Affirmative Action. That’s why I found the following commentary so important. It’s from historian Mark Updegrove, president of the LBJ Foundation in Austin, who spoke on CBS Sunday Morning about a similarly momentous day in American history—July 2, 1964.

He wrote:

“Fifty-nine years ago today, legal apartheid in America came to an abrupt end. President Lyndon Johnson addressed the nation from the East Room of the White House:

“’I am about to sign into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964... Let us close the springs of racial poison.’

“Afterward, ours was a changed nation, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The back of Jim Crow, with its false promise of “separate but equal” public accommodations, was broken, as America fulfilled its most sacred ideal: “All men are created equal.”

“Since then, the Civil Rights Act has become as fundamental to our national identity as any of our founding documents, deeply rooted in the fabric of a nation that strives to be “more perfect” and to move ever forward.

“In a deeply-divided America, where faith in government has ebbed, and affirmative action is under siege, it’s worth reflecting on the fruition of the

How to contact your state/federal lawmakers

Sen. Eric Schmitt U.S. Senator (202) 224-5721

Sen. Josh Hawley U.S. Senator (816) 960-4694

Rep. Sam Graves Sixth District U.S. Rep. (816) 749-0800

Civil Rights Act as a snapshot of our country at its best...

“A time when Martin Luther King and an army of non-violent warriors put their bodies on the line to expose the worst of bigotry and racial tyranny...

“When a bipartisan Congress – Democrats and Republicans, alike – joined together to overcome a bloc of obstructionist Southern Democrats who staged the longest filibuster in Senate history, and force passage of the bill...

“‘And when a President put the weight of his office behind racial justice, dismissing adverse political consequences by responding, “What the hell’s the presidency for?’

“Why did Johnson choose to sign the Civil Rights Act on July 2, instead of doing so symbolically on July 4, as Americans celebrated Independence Day? He wanted to sign the bill into law as soon as possible, which he did just hours after it was passed.

“And that separate date makes sense. The signing of the Civil Rights Act deserved its own day. Because for many marginalized Americans, July 2 was Independence Day, a day when every citizen became equal under the law.

“And that’s something we should all celebrate.”

Let’s celebrate July 4, our Independence Day, but always

Rep. Josh Hurlbert Eighth District State Rep. (573) 751-0246

Rep. Dean VanSchoiack Ninth District State Rep. (573) 751-36666

Sen. Rusty Black 12th State Representative (573) 751-1415 remember July 2, 1964, another turning point in our Nation’s history.

* * * * Trivia question: According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, how much did Americans spend on fireworks in 2022? A. $4.5 billion B. $2.3 billion; C. $1.5 billion; D. $5 billion (find answer close by).

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Some Fourth of July smiles...

• What kind of tea did the American colonists want? Liber-tea.

• What did the colonists wear to the Boston Tea Party?

Tea-shirts

• What was the most popular dance in 1776? Indepen-dance. (Trivia Answer: B. $2.3 billion. The amount of money Americans spend on fireworks each year has shot up. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), we spent $2.3 billion on fireworks in 2022. Just as surprising is how much Americans spent on fireworks in 2020, the first year of pandemic-related lockdowns. Despite social distancing rules and mask mandates, those who love the Fourth of July came together to spend $1.9 billion on fireworks).

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Food for thought: “Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.” George Washington (1732-1799).

Talk to you next week! Steve Tinnen stevetinnen@yahoo.com

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Thursday, July 6

Salisbury steak, carrots, green beans, peaches, wheat bread.

Friday, July 7

Pork loin, mashed potatoes, creamed peas, assorted fruit, whole grain bread.

Monday, July 10

Beef hot dog on a whole wheat bun, baked beans, potato wedges, relishes, chilled plums.

Tuesday, July 11

Tuna casserole, creamed peas, carrots, chilled apricots, wheat bread.

Wednesday, July 12

Roast beef sandwich, mashed potato, green beans, fruit cocktail, July birthday cake.

Thursday, July 13

Chicken, rice, vegetable blend, apple crisp, homemade rolls.

Friday, July 14

Sloppy joe on a bun, potato wedges, corn, coleslaw, fruit gelatin with peaches.

Monday, July 17

Swedish meatballs, lima beans, cucumber and tomato, salad, peaches, wheat bread.

Tuesday, July 18

Ham salad on lettuce, potato salad, three-bean salad, lime gelatin with cottage cheese and pineapple, crackers.

Wednesday, July 19

Swiss steak, broccoli, cauliflower, mandarin oranges, biscuit.

Thursday, July 20

Chicken and noodles, spinach, corn, tropical fruit, wheat bread.